Illinois baseball is mourning the loss of pitching coach Mark Allen, who passed away on February 5, 2025, at the age of 49 after a battle with cancer.
Highlights
- University of Illinois baseball pitching coach Mark Allen passed away at 49 following a battle with cancer.
- Late Mark Allen’s wife, Angela Allen, was the head coach of Callisburg High School volleyball from 2019 to 2020.
- Mark’s daughters, Skylar and Avery Allen, are collegiate beach volleyball players.
On Thursday, February 6, 2025, the Illinois baseball program shared that pitching coach Allen had passed away at 49.
Moreover, Illinois issued a release saying Allen’s family had announced that he passed away on Wednesday, February 5, 2025. Allen had been Illinois pitching coach since the 2020 season.
Under his guidance, the team secured 121 victories over five seasons, and ten pitchers signed contracts with MLB teams during his tenure.
Throughout his career, Mark Allen totaled over 25 seasons of coaching and scouting in collegiate and professional baseball.
Mark Allen impacted countless student-athletes and people through his baseball journey. The Illinois famILLy was lucky to have him on our staff.
— Illinois Baseball (@IlliniBaseball) February 6, 2025
Our love and thoughts are with his family.https://t.co/jXZDvPnarz pic.twitter.com/6Gsibd4Lyi
In March 2024, Allen took a health-related leave of absence, revealing that he had begun treatment after being diagnosed with cancer.
Following the demise news of Mark Allen, Dan Hartleb, University of Illinois head Baseball coach, on his X (formerly Twitter), writes,
We lost a great human being. A great man of faith. A great Husband, Father and Coach that positively impact EVERYONE he came in contact with during his life. Mark was a champion everyday of his life. We will miss him greatly.
Mark Allen
Similarly, the Illinois Baseball family also expressed grief and sent condolences to the Allen family, quoting,
Mark Allen impacted countless student-athletes and people through his baseball journey. The Illinois famILLy was lucky to have him on our staff. Our love and thoughts are with his family.
Illinois Baseball
Mark Allen Is Survived By His Wife, Angela Allen, High School Coach, And Two Athlete Daughters, Skylar, And Avery Allen
Illinois baseball coach Mark Allen and his family maintained athleticism within the team. His wife, Angela Allen, played softball in college.
After her collegiate years, she chose the coaching pathways of softball and volleyball. In 2020, she became the head coach of Callisburg volleyball.
In 2018-2019, Angela led the Callisburg Lady Cat to win the Class 3A State Championship, marking the team’s first-ever state championship.
Regarding the team’s achievements, Angela was named high school coach of the year by the NFHS.
As of February 2025, Angela Allen’s current workplace has not been disclosed publicly. On her X account, she often posts about the athletic endeavors of her two daughters, Skylar and Avery Allen.
The elder daughter, Skylar Allen, is a South Carolina beach volleyball graduate student. She started a doctoral program in physical education in the 2024-25 school year.
In July 2024, Skylar earned a spot on the 2023-24 Academic All-American Women’s At-Large teams. Allen is the first member of the beach volleyball program to earn a place on a national team.
Furthermore, the youngest daughter of Mark and Angela, Avery Allen, is also a beach volleyball player for Boise State University.
She played four seasons of indoor volleyball at Mohomet Seymour High School in Mahomet, Illinois. She was named the News-Gazette Player of the Year and All-Area Player of the Year.
Similarly, Avery played club volleyball for Team One Beach volleyball and finished second at the 18u AAU National Championship in 2024.
Mark Allen’s daughters are emerging beach volleyball players still competing in their expertise, guided by their parents.
However, after Mark Allen’s demise, his wife Angela encouraged their two daughters, Skylar and Avery, to follow the athletic legacy of their father, Mark.
Additional Information
- Mark Allen’s eldest daughter Skylar lettered in high school basketball, softball, track, and indoor volleyball.
- In 2007, Mark Allen served as the coach of the Wausau Woodchucks. He also worked for the Cleveland Guardians and San Francisco Giants.
- Allen played college baseball for Vernon Junior College, Texas-San Antonio, and Philips University from 1994 to 1998 before entering the coaching circuit.
